A: The Plot Plan is a scaled-down drawing that indicates the orientation and location of your new home. It shows the distance of the home from the front, back and side property lines and positions the home in accordance with municipal bylaws for ‘set-backs’ from property lines and easements.

A: You will have to contact Canada Post with your postal code. They will direct you on where to pick up your key and the location of your postal box. You must take photo I.D. and proof of address (your Purchase Agreement usually works well).

A: Genesis does a thorough inspection of your home at your pre-occupancy walk-through. However, on rare occasions something is missed. If there is an issue after this walk-through, Genesis will address the concern and determine the correct course of action to take. Please contact our Warranty Department. Genesis is not responsible for damage that occurs in your home after possession.

Cash/Cheque deposits are payments that bind your agreement with Genesis. Deposits are paid prior to the start of construction. Protection of the deposit is secured through Genesis’ membership with Travelers. The Program’s protection stipulates that deposits are covered up to a maximum of $50,000. The coverage begins at the time your offer is made firm with Genesis and the proper paperwork is signed off by Travelers.

A: At the time of possession, it is entirely possible that not all the work on your home will be complete. The most common reason is cold weather. Winter has a tendency to delay all kinds of exterior work – from applying paint or stucco to pouring concrete driveways and finishing the landscaping. These kinds of weather-delay problems are known as ‘seasonal deficiencies.’

Defects should be noted at the time of possession and will be followed up and corrected during the two and eleven month inspections. Please be sure to document defects as they appear.

A: Architectural controls bring added value to new communities and to your investment. To ensure the development of appealing new communities, developers today often regulate things like the placement of homes on lots, the mass of exterior elevations, exterior design details, types of exterior finishes, and colours through architectural controls. Following these guidelines, Genesis will work with you to make suitable exterior design, material and colour choices, and will then submit your proposed home and lot plans along with your exterior finish specifications for approval.

Architectural Controls can change with each lot. If you change lots, make sure to find out if there are any changes in the architectural controls. To ensure conformity with the overall development concept, the developer may require modifications to the colour or material choices you’ve made on your Exterior Finish Selections. Or the developer may require that extra architectural details be added to the house. Revisions may result in added costs. Once the developer’s architectural approvals are received, you’ll want to review the final working drawings, plot plan and specifications carefully with your builder representative. If everything is acceptable, you can approve the plans. Then the builder will advise the developer who gives overall approval to proceed.

NOTE: These design prerequisites can also cause delays in the developer approval of your new home plans if they don’t conform to the developer’s guidelines. A copy of the Architectural Controls are available from the developer or area sales manager. Architectural controls vary from development to development.

Weather delays – Alberta builders have developed effective methods of dealing with extreme cold and wet conditions. To minimize weather delays, Genesis will place special emphasis on enclosing the structure of your new home and connecting utilities to create a protected working environment as soon as possible. Some exterior work can be left until conditions improve.

Inspection delays – Other normal delays can involve building, electrical and gas inspections that must be conducted by the appropriate authorities at certain stages before work can continue.

Change delays – Change orders can also cause delays.

Coordination delays – Between each stage of construction, another delay sometime happens as sub-trades and suppliers co-ordinate their moves to and from your new house.

If any delay extends beyond five working days, it is wise to consult with our representatives to learn about the effect on your construction schedule.

A: Depending on where you’ll be living, you may need to find out who provides your gas, power and water services. These companies could include: Emnax (power and water), Epcor (power and water), Direct Energy (natural gas) and the municipality that you will be living in (water and sewer services). This contact information is provided in your sales binder and on your possession letter.

A: You’ll need to call and have your utilities scheduled for hook-up on your possession day. Delaying this could cause the service provider to disconnect your services and you’ll be responsible for the reconnection fee.

A: A Genesis site superintendent will conduct your “closing” and provide you with your house keys on the day of your possession. If you require a mailbox key, please contract Canada Post directly to find out where these keys can be picked up.

A: While the home is under construction, the title of the property is registered to the developer. You will meet with the lawyer to sign any legal documents two to three weeks before possession to facilitate the title transfer. Transfer of Title occurs on your possession date once you complete all financial obligations and paperwork.

A. Whether you are buying your first home, your dream home, or your retirement home, a new home purchase is likely the single biggest investment most consumers ever make. Consumers should be able to make that investment with the confidence that their home will be free of unforeseen expenses and that defects will be rectified. This Guide pays particular attention to supporting homeowners by providing clear and concise information about Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act and its supporting regulations.

A: A structural defect is a failure of a load-bearing component of your home to provide support. By that definition, a basement crack isn’t a structural defect, but it may be an indication that such a possibility exists. If you have concerns regarding a possible structural defect past the first year, contact Genesis and Travelers. Travelers will take down the details, start the paperwork requesting an inspection and an inspector will investigate your concerns. If the inspector determines there is a structural failure, The Program will take the necessary steps to discover the cause(s) of the failure. The Program will develop a plan to correct the cause(s) of the failure and then implement the repairs within the limits of the warranty coverage.

A: You will have to contact Canada Post with your postal code. They will direct you on where to pick up your key and the location of your postal box. You must take photo I.D. and proof of address (your Purchase Agreement usually works well).

A: Genesis does a thorough inspection of your home at your pre-occupancy walk-through. However, on rare occasions something is missed. If there is an issue after this walk-through, Genesis will address the concern and determine the correct course of action to take. Please contact our Warranty Department. Genesis is not responsible for damage that occurs in your home after possession.